President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day period of national mourning in honour of Nigerian Air Force personnel who lost their lives in an aircraft crash in Ondo State.

The President also ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast nationwide throughout the mourning period as a mark of respect for the deceased.

The directive was announced in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu had earlier expressed deep sadness over the crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.

Describing the incident as a painful loss to the Armed Forces and the nation, the President commended the Nigerian Air Force for immediately mobilising personnel and resources for search and rescue operations.

He also directed the Air Force to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and identify measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Nigerian Air Force said the identities of the deceased personnel would be made public after their next of kin had been formally notified.